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The Care and Feeding of Books Old and New: A Simple Repair Manual for Book Lovers
Books: Travel: Bern: Item 4
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The Care and Feeding of Books Old and New: A Simple Repair Manual for Book Loversby Margot Rosenberg and Bern Marcowitz
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful: Lighthearted Common Sense Guide to Book Ownership., February 22, 2004 Reviewer:mirasreviews (McLean, VA USA) - Margot Rosenberg and Bern Markowitz wrote "The Care and Feeding of Books Old and New" after repeatedly being queried by their customers on how to care for old books. The couple owned Dog Lovers Bookshop in Manhattan (now on the web), which specialized in the literature of dogs, including many old and esoteric volumes. Inspired by basic handbooks for new dog owners, they set out to write a common sense guide to book ownership that covered routine care and basic first aid. In that, they have largely succeeded. This book would be a useful and much appreciated addition to the collection of any reader who isn't an expert, but is interested in keeping his or her books in top shape through preventive measures and minor repairs. It's a fantastic help for anyone who frequently purchases secondhand books that would benefit from a little clean-up. The book starts out with an explanation of the common household products, as well as some specialized products, that will be of use to you in maintaining and repairing books. Then the authors talk about conditions which pose a threat to books -mold, insects, water, dirt, etc.- and what you can do to remedy the damage. There is a chapter on cleaning books and a chapter on repairing them. Both chapters address all parts of the book, including dust jackets. Most of the advice is for hardback books, but some of it applies equally to paperbacks. The discussion of book repair includes a section on professional bookbinding in case your book's affliction is beyond the scope of an amateur. There is a lengthy and informative interview with John Landau, owner of Find Binding and expert bibliopegist. The authors go on to recommend the best ways to handle, store and protect books. And this guide to book ownership concludes with some fun ideas on how to promote the good care of books, followed by a glossary of terms, an amusing list of words pertaining to books whose root is "biblio", recommendations for further reading, a list of suppliers, organizations that offer classes in book arts, and, finally, a little travel guide for those who want to walk "a bibliomaniac's Manhattan mile". I'm giving "The Care and Feeding of Books Old and New" five stars because it contains so much useful information, presented in a humorous tone at a jaunty pace. I have one reservation about the book, however: It would benefit tremendously from some illustrations. A diagram of a book's "anatomy" with parts labeled would make it so much easier to understand instructions, as would a few additional illustrations of the more complex repairs. The absence of any illustrations sometimes seems like a major oversight. But I'm sure that book lovers will find a lot to like and to use in this little guide. And it would make a thoughtful gift for any amateur bibliophile.
From Booklist
Rosenberg and Marcowitz, owners of Manhattan's Dog Lovers' Bookshop, gently introduce readers to the pleasures and intricacies of book TLC, along with not-so-random asides about canines. Carefully, they detail both friends of books (no direct sunlight, clean cloths, and sturdy level shelves) and foes (dust, insects, and the like) as well as simple cleaning and repairing. Nothing is complex--Elmer's Glue, for instance, rates as one of the best panaceas. And nothing is rushed--"dogs teach patience," the authors counsel. Everything here is absolutely dedicated to an enduring love of the printed page, accompanied by reflections on collecting, borrowing/lending, and enjoying the society around books. Head, tail, and spine above most nonfiction how-to's, this modest book deserves attention far beyond the universe of bibliomaniacs. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Reporter
"Perfect for amateur bibliophiles." --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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